Being John Malkovich

Name: Being John Malkovich
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: October 29, 1999
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Cusack, John Malkovich

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 36 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 516 Ratings

See All

8.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.8	Your Score
8.8	User Score Universal acclaim based on 516 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Being John Malkovich

Now Playing: Being John Malkovich

Movie Details & Credits

USA Films | Release Date: October 29, 1999 | R

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, John Cusack, John Malkovich

Summary: An out-of-work puppeteer takes a filing clerk job on the cramped 7 ½ floor of an office building where he discovers a hidden tunnel allowing him to enter the mind and life of actor John Malkovich for 15 mintues before being ejected onto the New Jersey Turnpike.

Director: Spike Jonze

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

See All Details and Credits

More You Might Like

Her

Where the Wild Things Are

Florence Foster Jenkins

Adaptation.

Stranger Than Fiction

Watch Now

Buy On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Film.com John Hartl

Breathlessly imaginative. Read full review

100

Owen Gleiberman

The most excitingly original movie of the year. Read full review

100

Jami Bernard

Gloriously inventive, delightfully nutty comic treasure is unlike anything you've ever seen. It's lunatic. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

A clever and outrageous piece of whimsical fantasy that is unique, unpredictable and more than a little strange. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

It's among the most inventive, screwily funny and consistently surprising movies I've seen in years. Read full review

Film.com Gemma Files

Surreal to the point of poeticism, amusing and tragic by turns. Read full review

Mike Clark

The story keeps reinventing itself (some of the later plot twists are among the funniest), but a little goes a long way at 112 minutes - maybe 25 minutes more than this sporadically pointed conceit really needs.

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

ErikH.

May 12, 2006

An entirely unique concept brought together by solid performance (particularly Diaz, Cusak, and Malkovich). A rare film treat that provides both laughs and contemplation. It doesn't have the traditional "happy ending" many viewers demand, but neither did "Hamlet" and I hear that got An entirely unique concept brought together by solid performance (particularly Diaz, Cusak, and Malkovich). A rare film treat that provides both laughs and contemplation. It doesn't have the traditional "happy ending" many viewers demand, but neither did "Hamlet" and I hear that got decent reviews.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Necromus

Jan 3, 2013

This is a very strange movie. It is a drama with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. It kind of keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation sometimes to see what this messed up situation will do to the romantic relationships between the people involved. The scene with all of the JohnThis is a very strange movie. It is a drama with a little bit of fantasy thrown in. It kind of keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation sometimes to see what this messed up situation will do to the romantic relationships between the people involved. The scene with all of the John Malkovich's at once is hilarious. Personally, I enjoyed this movie. If you're into well-written dramas or off the wall movies you will like this movie. If you want a typical Hollywood action movie or romantic comedy this movie is not for you.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Halfwelshman

Feb 8, 2012

Being John Malkovich really is a film like no other. Director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman's vision for the film is so complete, so unique and off-the-wall, it makes for an utterly spellbinding viewing experience. The performances are all superb, and many a far cry from theBeing John Malkovich really is a film like no other. Director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman's vision for the film is so complete, so unique and off-the-wall, it makes for an utterly spellbinding viewing experience. The performances are all superb, and many a far cry from the respective cast member's usual roles.John Cusack makes a very engaging, if highly unlikeable protagonist as Craig Schwatz, an ambitious but morally bereft puppeteer, who finds a mysterious portal into the head of John Malkovich. Malkovich, quite amusingly, gives one of the best performances of his career, playing a parody of himself, who is unwittingly used by a whole host of people for entertainment, entrepreneurial ventures and for a far more sinister purpose. Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener and Orson Bean are all excellent too as Craig's unfulfilled, animal-loving wife, his sexually deviant co-worker and his ancient and looney boss respectively. Being John Malkovich delivers on all fronts, from the cast playing a weird and wonderful array of characters to Spike Jonze's tight and controlled direction, Lance Acord's cinematography perfectly capturing the simple, yet effective visuals, Carter Burwell's fantastic score and especially Charlie Kaufman's slick, sharp and side-splittingly funny script. It's surreal, dark, well-written and simply hilarious. It's also superbly odd, bordering on lunacy, but in a good way. There's nothing else like it, and there likely never will be. By the end of Being John Malkovich, you've certainly been on a journey - you're not certain where you've been, or what it all means, but by God you had a good time.… Expand

11 of 11 users found this helpful110

EpicLadySponge

May 25, 2016

A joke isn't it? If you look at it, it's pretty much not just by forming the final conclusion. Being John Malkovich just pretty much rocks on every genre it belongs.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Sep 23, 2019

Usually you are waiting to go, "oh, this is that kind of a film" it never happens.

Being John Malkovich Spike Jonze makes films about humans. I know what you are thinking. None of his films, even the ones with human faces crowding the screen actually take a route through them. Yes. HeUsually you are waiting to go, "oh, this is that kind of a film" it never happens.

Being John Malkovich

Spike Jonze makes films about humans. I know what you are thinking. None of his films, even the ones with human faces crowding the screen actually take a route through them. Yes. He never does take a simple route. Although his film will always be effortless. Setting up the premise with an ease, is sugarcoated by sharp witty humor that does its own magic before the curtain drops too. What lies beneath is a thundering drama, zapping you with practically anyway, in any perspective you can see this head spinning concept explored with. But I don't want to just mention his contribution to what remains a story or a film that I do not understand to this date.

This is equally the writer, Charlie Kauffman's film. Coming from a comedic background, he can balance the humor with the drama- that he has worked exceptionally on- with his eyes closed. And it is also one of those rare screenplays that is considered to be the most unique in cinematic history and yet feels the most known and formidably a captivating show of a seen-this-seen-that humanization of the wooden faced puppets. Incredibly scary and achingly funny in what it has to procure.

And you'd think that with such unique elements that the film is embedded with, the makers would be careful. But they are instead carelessly throwing, pitching ideas left and right in this battlefield. It is basically a football game. Chaotic chase, the last run, the last whistle that is always about to blow in this section of the game, the film is exhaustingly amped up in its speech throughout the course of the film. Being John Malkovich might start off as a social satire only to evolve into what you might think as a political statement before revealing into what we call, a human nature.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ofanoyi

Jun 10, 2011

I am a little confused about this movie. And frankly speaking before I read other comments, I can not understand this movie. But to some extent, I think it is a good movie but not perfect one.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

ChrisB.

Feb 3, 2006

An appaling waste of time and talent. Shallow, unlikeable characters; unpleasant, jumbled cinematography, a shoddy script and no redeeming characteristics whatsoever.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 44 REVIEWS

3	#3 Best Movie of 1999
15	#15 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
19	#19 Most Shared Movie of 1999